The Christian Mumsnetters Board

hasanyoneseenmykeys · 2025-01-02T11:57:29+00:00

The Christian Mumsnetters board is relatively new, and has been created primarily for Christian mumsnetters to discuss things and ask each other questions. About half of threads on this board contain numerous comments from people who are clearly not Christian, either calling into question Christian beliefs, making irrelevant comments or saying things which are actively offensive to Christians. There is a place for this kind of discussion, and this place is the Philosophy/Religion board. Many of the Christian mumsnetters are also active on this board and will be interested in this kind of debate, in its place. But the constant onslaught of disrespectful or irrelevant comments on the Christian Mumsnetters board is unnecessary, and is making the board irrelevant. We have the FWR Sex and Gender board for debate, and a separate board for LGBT parents. It would be unacceptable for a load of people from the FWR board to come over to the LGBT parents board and start criticizing people's choices on there. Or for people to start going on the Home Education board and criticise those parents choices. Or on the foreign travel board and start posting that using air travel is unethical. There are a range of different beliefs on MN, and for the most part people are respectful of the boards created for different purposes, but for some reason not on the Christian Mumsnetters board. Is there a way of giving people a warning system or blocking them from this board if they keep doing this? Also for MNHQ to recognise that a statement like "God is imaginary" or "Jesus didn't really exist" might be okay in most areas of Mumsnet but on the board which has been created specifically for people who believe that God and Jesus do exist it is really disrespectful. In the same way that a comment like "I think it's wrong to transition children" might be acceptable as part of debate on FWR but not so much on the LGBT parents board. Aside from the issue of being offensive, it's annoying when about a third of the thread is posters who are not addressing the OP but just dismissing religion in general. A few weeks ago there was a thread where the OP asked for a biblical/Christian perspective on an issue in her life. Loads of replies were either advice from a clearly non-Christian perspective, or "why do you want a Christian perspective, what's wrong with other perspectives" or just generally "religion is made-up nonsense". Please could something be done to ensure that this board is used for the purpose it was set up?

EmilyHampton · 20/06/2025 04:25

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms · 09/01/2025 13:00

BeckyAMumsnet · 09/01/2025 11:54

Hi everyone - thanks for your patience. We have removed the Christian Mumsnetter's board from Active. We think this will help deter the kind of posts that have been causing issues but it does mean the posts are harder to find. If you think a MNer would like the board, do direct them to it!

Edited

Thank you very much 💕

Geneticsbunny · 09/01/2025 12:55

Thank you.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 09/01/2025 11:54

Hi everyone - thanks for your patience. We have removed the Christian Mumsnetter's board from Active. We think this will help deter the kind of posts that have been causing issues but it does mean the posts are harder to find. If you think a MNer would like the board, do direct them to it!

sillything · 06/01/2025 14:13

NotOneOfTheInCrowd · 02/01/2025 18:04

You misunderstand my point.

I was referring to the devout atheists who highjack the Christian (and other religion) boards to make it clear that there isn’t (in their opinion, although they spout it as fact) a God.

My point is that it’s perfectly ok for them to not believe that there is a God, but it shouldn’t matter so much to them that other people believe differently that they invade those spaces to make their opinions known. IYSWIM?

In short, I am on the side of the Christians, and think that the high jackets are weird and insecure about something in order to feel they should have the right to go to those lengths.

Show quote history

I was referring to the devout atheists who highjack the Christian (and other religion) boards to make it clear that there isn’t (in their opinion, although they spout it as fact) a God.

Do you understand atheism isn't a religion and that atheists can't be "devout" about anything? That the most persecuted (non) religious minority have always been atheists?

If the greatest own you can have against atheists is that they're devout, aren't you just denouncing yourself?

And, well, this is the XXI century. Your god, which was invented 2000 years ago - a period of time that covers only 0.66% of our history as a species - and which is a blatant rip-off of Judaism - can be very surely be asserted not to exist.

LadeOde · 03/01/2025 23:19

@erinaceus What do such posters get from it? we must remember that the message of the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18). Do not expect that people will embrace the Christian message or be kind and courteous to a gathering of Christians. They weren't kind and courteous to our Lord Jesus, so why would they be to us? it is done on purpose to rile, to upset, to antagonise and shut down any possible opportunity for light to enter the lives of others. The Bible says 'Stand firm in your faith, or you won't stand at all!' (Isaiah 7:9b). Those posters enjoy the offense they cause, they are fully aware it is deeply offensive to say God is a fairy etc but Jesus said, (Matthew 11:6)"Blessed is he who is not offended because of me". Our very existence offends them and that is the rage you are seeing. Why do we not see these posters on the pagan boards, raging and derailing? they're left in peace to discuss whatever they want.

So don't be surprised at the attacks. Maybe MN will be able to moderate a bit but whether MN does or not, nothing can separate us from the love the Father has for us in Christ Jesus. We will press on with our witness as the Lord has commanded us, we will continue sharing and growing in the Lord and the light of Christ will NEVER be extinguished.

ChristmasStars · 03/01/2025 23:16

hasanyoneseenmykeys · 02/01/2025 20:22

Thanks for your reply, but I think it still somewhat dismisses the issue.

As a comparable example, posters visit the Home Education board because they want to home educate and discuss matters related to this. If threads on the home ed board were being filled with people saying "home education is stupid/pointless/bad for children/etc." it would make it more difficult for actual home educators to use that board. And if there was a post on the general "Education" board which gave a negative view of Home Ed that would be a reasonable sharing of different ideas but coming over to the Home Ed board to tell everyone that you think Home Education is bad for children would obviously be inflammatory in that context.

No one is afraid of reasonable debate, but if people are asking for a Christian perspective on an issue then it's reasonable to expect that people would only post if they are able to offer than. And especially that they would not post generally disparaging comments about the Christian perspective being wrong.

Please do consider moderating with this in mind, since this is what all of the people for whom the board was created are asking for.

Show quote history

I agree. I have only just found this thread. I reported some of the worst posts yesterday and got one little reply from MN saying they're looking into it. Most of the mean posts are still standing. It's really not on and makes me think that MN are happy for other boards to be safe spaces but don't care at all about the Christian board. Am I right @BeckyAMumsnet ?

erinaceus · 03/01/2025 13:20

The way I think about it, the Christian Mumsnetters board is loosely a form of church (in the Matthew 18:20 sense).

To my mind it is weird to wander into a space set up for a particular faith and be antagonistic. What do such posters get from it? Do they understand that their behaviour is irritating? Do they do this IRL, wander into faith gatherings and argue with groups of believers? Is there a hope that we are all going to respond “nope, wait, you are right, Jesus isn’t our Lord and Saviour” ?

I agree with OP that Most Christians have not just blindly adopted their faith without any research, and have probably already considered the evidence in great detail before committing their lives to it. Being a Christian is not a trivial exercise. Christianity is a team sport - it is best done in community - and I appreciated MN making this board for us to have a space to come together and support each other. It will be a shame if it is not usable by us.

I think removing the board from Active might help us, or is at least worth a try.

Nextyearhopes · 02/01/2025 20:49

I lost a dear Christian friend a couple of months ago, the lady I would always discuss faith with, share prayer with, be close to Jesus with.
Seeing the Christian MN board was a comfort although I didn’t post much on it as was feeling very raw. I hope the tone can remain nice.

Original poster

hasanyoneseenmykeys · 02/01/2025 20:48

LastTrainsEast · 02/01/2025 19:04

I may be able to clarify that.

Firstly as an atheist I don't claim to know there is no god. After all a god might have turned up, made a universe and then left. There'd be no way to know.

However the so called proofs of the most popular gods are baseless and the internet and society is drowning in misinformation as it is. When someone repeats an obvious falsehood such as "there is proof Jesus existed" it's important to point that out for the benefit of all. He may well have done, but the claim of proof is misinformation.

We should also speak up when someone claims vaccines contain a mind control chip and/or are 100% fatal. It's not just religion.

Also religion affects me in the UK. Other people's beliefs are used to decide on legal matters and to guide the education in public schools. There is pressure to bring back blasphemy laws for Islam and Christianity, to ban dogs from public places and so on.

Having said that I don't normally post on the special Christian board. I did make one post today as someone thought when Jesus was born they started counting the year from zero (BC/AD)

I felt that confusion needed clearing up as sadly it's a common mistake now.

Show quote history

It sounds like you're saying "people always need to be told that they're wrong". They don't.

You also sound very certain that you are more informed about things than others. Most Christians have not just blindly adopted their faith without any research, and have probably already considered the evidence in great detail before committing their lives to it. In my own case, a degree in Ancient History has allowed me ample opportunity to evaluate the abundant evidence of Jesus' existence but I don't want to debate that on the Christian Mumsnetters board (or on this board).

You said that you commented on a thread earlier about desiring to clear up confusion about the exact dating of AD/BC. But this was not really relevant to the OPs question about when Jesus became aware of his divinity, and is therefore a prime example of an unhelpful derail.

OP posts:

Original poster

hasanyoneseenmykeys · 02/01/2025 20:22

BeckyAMumsnet · 02/01/2025 18:18

Thanks all for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback about how this board is being used.

This board was created as a space for Christian members of Mumsnet to connect, share, and discuss topics. Like all our boards, it operates under our Talk guidelines, and we will remove comments that are personal attacks or we judge deliberately inflammatory if they’re reported to us. At the same time, we believe it’s important to strike a balance - banning disagreement or criticism outright would go against our purpose as a forum for meaningful discussion. Religion, after all, often grapples with fundamental questions about life, morality, and existence, and even within faith communities, there’s no single interpretation of scripture or doctrine.

We want this to be a space where people can discuss, disagree, and ideally find common ground. However, we do ask that discussions remain constructive and MNers avoid comments intended to cause hurt and/or mock beliefs. Those who wish to get into the weeds of theological debates about the existence of God will probably find the general Philosophy/religion board better suited.

We’re carefully considering all the feedback shared here and in your emails and will discuss it further at MNHQ.

Thanks for your reply, but I think it still somewhat dismisses the issue.

As a comparable example, posters visit the Home Education board because they want to home educate and discuss matters related to this. If threads on the home ed board were being filled with people saying "home education is stupid/pointless/bad for children/etc." it would make it more difficult for actual home educators to use that board. And if there was a post on the general "Education" board which gave a negative view of Home Ed that would be a reasonable sharing of different ideas but coming over to the Home Ed board to tell everyone that you think Home Education is bad for children would obviously be inflammatory in that context.

No one is afraid of reasonable debate, but if people are asking for a Christian perspective on an issue then it's reasonable to expect that people would only post if they are able to offer than. And especially that they would not post generally disparaging comments about the Christian perspective being wrong.

Please do consider moderating with this in mind, since this is what all of the people for whom the board was created are asking for.

OP posts:

Onthefenceaboutmarmite · 02/01/2025 20:17

I left MN for several years after a relatively gentle thread about light parties got really nasty (sky fairies and accusations of Christians violently appropriating pagan festivals - all wrapped up in a bullying pile on of the OP) I hadn’t contributed to the thread but felt extremely unwelcome as a Christian on there. It is encouraging to hear there is a Christian mumsnet board but I still wouldn’t be confident to post knowing the general attitude towards Christians on here.

FloralGums · 02/01/2025 20:14

Yes. Please take them off Active.

12purplepencils · 02/01/2025 20:08

Perhaps it would be best for the threads not to appear in Active if all views/opinions are not welcome.
(Not being snippy but genuinely if posters there only want other posters to hold fundamentally the same beliefs as them, then would be better to make it like the SN board where you have to seek it out rather than come across threads incidentally on Active)

Original poster

hasanyoneseenmykeys · 02/01/2025 20:05

INeedAnotherName · 02/01/2025 17:49

While I support you in having a place to discuss your values without hate spilling over into it, I do take great exception to your inflammatory comment.

It would be unacceptable for a load of people from the FWR board to come over to the LGBT parents board and start criticizing people's choices on there

You obviously have zero idea of what the FWR board is about. Most if not all, fully support the LGB in their fight for equality and rights, as well as safeguarding children.

I have spent more time on the FWR board in the last 2 years than on any other part of Mumsnet. I fully understand the difference between the LGB and the TQ+. But there is no separate board on Mumsnet in the parenting section: there's a single "LGBT parents" board rather than a separate "LGB parents" and a "Trans parents" board. So my comment was not inflammatory, but simply an accurate reference to the name of the board.

And while I personally care deeply about that FWR issue as well, not everyone does so it really is not relevant to this thread at all.

OP posts:

LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms · 02/01/2025 20:04

Thank you for raising this @hasanyoneseenmykeys

I’m a Christian and am dismayed by the way the Christian Mumsnetters board has been repeatedly derailed by hostile posters.

On the thread currently under discussion there are several repeat posters who simply will not accept that their behaviour is unacceptable, disrespectful and offensive to Christians on the Christian Mumsnetters board.

These posters have been asked to take their theories to the Philosophy/ Religion board and debate them there, but refuse to do so. It’s clear then that they have an agenda, which is to deliberately disrupt and antagonise Christians in a space where we (and others) can respectfully converse.

Geneticsbunny · 02/01/2025 19:14

I have been so distressed by the deeply offensive anti Christian rantings today that I have left the board in order to protect my wellbeing.

There is a difference between pointing out a difference of opinion, i.e saying well I don't believe that God exists but I understand and realise that that is important to the people on this board, and just coming on the board to shout that it's all a load of crap and that the fabric on which people's lives are built is a complete web of fraudulent lies. The first, I would be annoyed with but tolerate. The second is deeply offensive and unnecessary and doesn't foster any sort of debate. It's just nasty.

LastTrainsEast · 02/01/2025 19:04

NotOneOfTheInCrowd · 02/01/2025 13:02

I will preface this by saying that I am an atheist, :-) but, I think that the question needs to be asked of these people… what is it that they’re so afraid of that they feel the need to wade in on a specific discussion in order to derail it round to their point of view.

I mean if someone is that certain that there is no God, then surely that’s all that matters? What’s it to them if other people believe that there is?

I may be able to clarify that.

Firstly as an atheist I don't claim to know there is no god. After all a god might have turned up, made a universe and then left. There'd be no way to know.

However the so called proofs of the most popular gods are baseless and the internet and society is drowning in misinformation as it is. When someone repeats an obvious falsehood such as "there is proof Jesus existed" it's important to point that out for the benefit of all. He may well have done, but the claim of proof is misinformation.

We should also speak up when someone claims vaccines contain a mind control chip and/or are 100% fatal. It's not just religion.

Also religion affects me in the UK. Other people's beliefs are used to decide on legal matters and to guide the education in public schools. There is pressure to bring back blasphemy laws for Islam and Christianity, to ban dogs from public places and so on.

Having said that I don't normally post on the special Christian board. I did make one post today as someone thought when Jesus was born they started counting the year from zero (BC/AD)

I felt that confusion needed clearing up as sadly it's a common mistake now.

LetsNCagain · 02/01/2025 18:52

My point is that being a Christian is not unique to women. Being a mother, wife, DIL, pregnant, or breastfeeding, are. It is my opinion that mumsnet is better for exclusively women's issues.

I never said being Christian is "just a religion"?!

Edit to add the word exclusively although I felt I was clear in the first place

LadeOde · 02/01/2025 18:48

@LetsNCagain But being a Christian is not just a religion, it is a way of life that is woven into the fabric that governs everything you listed inc relationships advice, and feminism, fashion.
I had no idea the board existed but interested. I have long given up on the philosophy boards as you can be guaranteed they will always get derailed. It's impossible to help posters seeking to know more about Christ, looking for a church or simply discussing doctrine gets derailed with comments like, 'why do you need a church? i know a helpful community somewhere and there's no Christ, you do know its a fairy? etc etc. I'll wait to see if @OP's comments are taken on board.
At the same time, we believe it’s important to strike a balance - banning disagreement or criticism outright would go against our purpose as a forum for meaningful discussion.
I'm wondering how MN will navigate a balance here if someone asks for advice about becoming a Christian or seeks to discuss specific Christian doctrine amongst people who already share the faith should endless debates/criticism be allowed from obviously non Christians attacking fundamental Christian beliefs? if that is the case then the board is pointless.

LetsNCagain · 02/01/2025 18:23

Tbh I think this is the problem with mumsnet trying to be all things to all (wo)men. For me, mn is excellent for parenting (with a focus on mothers), pregnancy, relationships advice (with a focus on women's pov), feminism, women's fashion.

In other words, things that are particularly about women's and mothers' POV.

Wherever it veers from those above topics, it is less helpful (imo). So I go somewhere else for other topics.

MNHQ

BeckyAMumsnet · 02/01/2025 18:18

Thanks all for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback about how this board is being used.

This board was created as a space for Christian members of Mumsnet to connect, share, and discuss topics. Like all our boards, it operates under our Talk guidelines, and we will remove comments that are personal attacks or we judge deliberately inflammatory if they’re reported to us. At the same time, we believe it’s important to strike a balance - banning disagreement or criticism outright would go against our purpose as a forum for meaningful discussion. Religion, after all, often grapples with fundamental questions about life, morality, and existence, and even within faith communities, there’s no single interpretation of scripture or doctrine.

We want this to be a space where people can discuss, disagree, and ideally find common ground. However, we do ask that discussions remain constructive and MNers avoid comments intended to cause hurt and/or mock beliefs. Those who wish to get into the weeds of theological debates about the existence of God will probably find the general Philosophy/religion board better suited.

We’re carefully considering all the feedback shared here and in your emails and will discuss it further at MNHQ.

Philosophy/religion | Mumsnet

Mumsnet makes parents' lives easier by pooling knowledge, advice and support on everything from conception to childbirth, from babies to teenagers.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/philosophy_religion_spirituality

TheCrenchinglyMcQuaffenBrothers · 02/01/2025 18:09

I think the way to go is to not have the threads appear in Active threads so as not to attract the type of poster with that agenda in the first place. And then maybe add a proviso to the opening post that you’re now in Christian Mumsnetters please be respectful etc. The way Black Mumsnetters had to be similarly approached to avoid bad faith pps.

DistractMe · 02/01/2025 18:04

I'm posting in support of the OP. I'm Christian and was thinking of contributing to a couple of threads, then I saw they were being derailed by hostile posters and decided not to bother.

This problem will kill the board in its infancy if a solution isn't found.

NotOneOfTheInCrowd · 02/01/2025 18:04

U53rName · 02/01/2025 17:55

Probably because Christian Mumsnetters are there to get a Christian point of view on something from other Christians, not to be attacked/have to defend themselves. Same for those on the Jewish Mumsnetters board and on the Muslim Mumsnetters board. If you want to question theology, take it to the theology board, rather than attacking Christians/Jews/Muslims on their boards.

Show quote history

You misunderstand my point.

I was referring to the devout atheists who highjack the Christian (and other religion) boards to make it clear that there isn’t (in their opinion, although they spout it as fact) a God.

My point is that it’s perfectly ok for them to not believe that there is a God, but it shouldn’t matter so much to them that other people believe differently that they invade those spaces to make their opinions known. IYSWIM?

In short, I am on the side of the Christians, and think that the high jackets are weird and insecure about something in order to feel they should have the right to go to those lengths.